Marker



May 15, 1923.

3,455,166) B. YosHNAGA- MARKER Filed Nov. 1, 1919 Fig. Z

Patented May 15, 19213.

TJNfTE STATES fansite afar orcs.

BUNZUQHI YOSHINAGA, 0F VANCOUVER, WASHINGTON.

MARKER.

Application filed November 1.1, 1919. Serial No. 337,132.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that BUNZUGHI YosHiNAoA, `a subject of Japan, and residentof Vancouver, in thecounty of Clarke, in the State of lVashington, hasinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Markers, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference beiiig had to the accompanyingdrawing.

My iiivention relates to markers, and has for its object the productionof an improved automatic machine for applying to preferably roundobjects, such, for example, as fruit cans, theimprint of a date or othermatter.

My machine is designed and adapted, by the aid of simple and inexpensivemechanism, to facilitate and expedite the making of a legible imprintupon an object as above described, Without bluri'ing, as from a squareor fiush-faced type-plate which is preferred because it is the simplestand least expensive form of plate.

What constitutes my invention Will be hereinafter specified in detailand succinctly set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure I is a side elevation, partially in section, of my invention inpreferred form,

of embodiment, located in operative juxtaposition to a can and itscarrier, and showing the type-plate of the machine in opera-` tivecontact with the side of the can.`

Figure II is a section on the line II-II of Figure I.

i Figure III is a face view of a type-plate block and its holder proper,detached.

Referring to the numerals on the drawing, 1 indica'tes,diagrammatically, one can of a series, and 2 the `next can of the series:in regular order of .successiom The longitudinal axisl of each canisadapted lto be driven in symmetrical arc 3 'of any convenient andpreferred radius, by means, for

example, of i an indented wheel 4 which, confining each can in one ofits indentations causes -it to travel in definite relative disposition``along a track 6 by an impelling force communicated through rotation ofthe wheele upon its axis;v

Mechanism for rotating the wheel 4 is not illustrated because, although4it, or some equivalent theretois essential to the operationvof mydevice, its relation is only incidentalto-myinvention. The diagrammat-Vical illustration above described is believed to afford sufficientrepresentation of all that is essential to my invention, namely, anysuitable rotative mechanism for driving cans in regular orderofsuccession and in spaced relationship one to another.

l/Vithin operative proximity to the side of each can, at a predeterminedpoint in its line of travel, along the are 3, lfor example, I provide,upon any suitable means of support not illustrated but whose presence issufficiently indicated by bolt holes 7, a

.marlrer-supporting-member which preferably consists of a bottom 8 and aside plate 9 united thereto at right angles by a bend 10. To the sideplate 9 is secured, as by bolts 11, an end plate 12 from the oppositeends of which and at right angles thereto, extend legs 15 and 16, theleg 16 being spaced a suitable short distance above the bottom plate 8.The aforesaid meinbers, 8 to 16, inclusive, represent in simple, andtherefore preferred, form of einbodiment, any suitable frame wliich inaybe preferred for operatively supporting my device.

Revolubly mounted in the space between the members 8 and 16 is Vthe maindriving member or actuator of my device. It preferably comprises, in theform of embodiinent of my invention shown, a horizontal disk 17, havinga depending arbor 18 journaled in a bearing provided for it in the plate8 and rotatably secured therein as by a nut 19 and an intermediatewasher 20. Secured to the disk 17 and of corresponding diameter, is aninternally-toothed annular gear 21, to the upper face of which is seycured, as by tap-screws 22, a driving wheel 25, having a circularopening 26, whose diameter is a little greater than the interiordiameter 'of the gear, 21, whereby the teeth of said gear or a portionthereof projectinternally inside of the circle of the opening 26 asshown, for example in Figure II.

The wheel 25 is provided with four prongs 27, 28, 29, and 30 eachcorrespondingiwith another in shape land dimensions. Each prong isdistinguished by two actuating corners or snub-faces,namely, a toe 31and a heel 82, and by an intermediate bearingface 33. Between the toe ofone prong and the heel of the preng next adjacent, in order of rotationof the wheel 25, for example the prongs 27 and 28 as indicatedbyV theleft oblique arrow on Figure II, extends a contour-defining line of thesaid wheel that is composed of two parts 34 and 85, the former beingpreferably a curved face proportioned to fit the shape of an objectcorresponding to a can body` for example the can 1, and the latterbeino: a str ia'ht or plane face which inerges intothe face 34substantially at the point 36.

Mounted between the legs 15 and 16 in bearings provided for itstrunnions 37 ant 38, is a rectangular` frame 39 that is open on thatside of it that is adjacent to the trunnions 37 and 38. The trunnioncarriesa fixed pinion 40 for whose accommodation it is preferablyel'ongated so as 'to enable the pinion 40 to intern'esh with the teethof the ,ejear 21, and those parts are `geared together in the proportionof one to four; that is to say, the pinion 40 makes one completerevolution to each quarter turn of vthe ,Q'ear 21 VVitliin the hollow ofthe frame 35) is provided a block-holder preferably consisting of twocheek-pieces 41 and 42 united by a backvpiece 43 from which projectstuds 45 that are supported in apcrtures provided for them in theback-piece 46 of the frame 35). The studs `45 are preferably screw-studsthrcaded'into the back-piece 43', and provided, respectively, withheads48 adapted to limit their movement in one direction through theapertures' wherein they are set to unite themto the back-piece 46, inwhich direction the blockholder is impelled as by a bow-spring 50interposed between the opposing faces of the back-pieces 43 and 46.

" Between the cheekpieces 41 and 42 is providedI a printing block thatis detachably held in place as by a winged set-screw 52. Upon itsforward edge the block 51 carries a type-plate j faced and made of indiarubber, and which presents printing` characters 54 of any preferredselection. The characters 54 may, of course, project beyond the face ofthe plate 58-or be counter-sunk therein, as preferred for printingeffect.

Behind the back-piece 46 is revolubly mounted, as in'opposite plates55,`bolted,`for example, respectvely, to the legs 15 and 16,

an inking roller 57 of any suitable and preferred type. i

The operation'ofl my machine may be described' as follows;

The normal position of its parts may be -re0arded tas that which iswelld 'shown 'in `Figure II, which is the printing position'of'the'block 61,' and to which it continues vauto'matically to returnin the operation of A the machine upon the completion of its cycle ofoperation.

Each'can of the series becomes, successively, in turn, amechanicalprime-mover to the .wheel 25` with which operative envgagement iseffected through its respective prongsx, actuated in succession.

Take, for' example, the can l, which,

53 which is preferably flush-- Figure II is shown in the positioninwhich. its diameter 60 is at rightangles' to the plane of the face ofthe type-plate 53. In that position the type-plate is brought intoimprinting contact with the surface of the can under yielding compulsionof the spring 50. lt should be observed in this connection that thedrawing shows the printing block 51- bearing its type-plateadvanceth-under the impulse of said spring, to the extreme limit of itsmovement. Such illustration is deemed to be conducive to clearness, butit should be accepted with the understanding` that the advance of theface of the type-plate 53 is, in respect toits printing function,limited by contact with the periphery of a can` lVith this explanation,which makes the representation. of the can rather diagrammatical thanactual, it is assumed that the can l in Figure H is in position toreceive imprintfrom the type-plate 53. In that position, the peripheryof said can sits snugly against the face 34 to whose contour itVconforms. The time of printing' contact betweenthe type-plate 53 andthe periphery of the can is, in the operation lof the machine,momentary, and is determined by the regular movement of the axis 61 ofthe can in its travel along` the are 3, for example From the position ofthe can indicated by the line 60 in Figure H, the face of the can andthe face of the type-plate 53 begin *to recede one from the other. Theirseparation is occasioned in partby the movement of the axis 61 along theare 3, and in part by rotative movement of the wheel 25 Said rotativemovement is, in the instance under consideration, imparted to the wheelby engagement of the periphery of the advancing can 1 with the heel 32of the can-engaging prong 27. Rotation of the wheel 25 is, by suchengagemei'jt, continued to be imparted to it tln'ough'ad'ance of the can1, the face 35V ai'fording clearance between the periphery of the canand the next advancing prong 28, until the toe 31 thereof engages theperiphcry of the can 2, that is to say, with the can which is next inseries to the can 1. This engagement takes place substantially at themoment when the 'heel 32 of the prong 27 ceases to engage with the can1.' Consequently, the rotation ofthe wheel 25 continues"uninterruptedlythrough engagement4 of each can in succession with the succe'ssive'prongs of the wheel. 'In the example 'under consideration, the can 1engages successvely with the toe '81, the' intermediate stretch 33,

and the heel 32 oftheprong 28, until the can 2 reaches a positioncorresponding to trunnions 37 and 38 during the advance of the can 2above described, and will have rmade one complete revolution by the timesaid can reaches the position of can l, as above set forth.

Substantially at each half turn of the frame 39, the type-plate 53 isbrought for a space into operative contact with the ink-v ing roller 57,and is thereby snpplied with ink for the next succeeding imprint. B vkeeping the roller 57 duly supplied With init, the printing operation ofthe type-plate of the block 51 is effected upon each can as it isadvanced in the successive order in the travel of the cans in seriesf Bythe synchronization, Which is the object of the mechanism abovespecified, of the movement of the several cans with the movement of theWheel 25, and especially through means by Which printing contact betweenthe face of the type-plate 53 is made dependent upon the movement of acan itself, all possibility of blurring the imprint upon the surface ofa can is substantially avoided and to all practical purposesacoinpletely eliminated.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination with arotatory printing member, and horizontally disposed rotatable means foractuating the samewith printing effect upon the side of each of asuccession of objects, of rotative mechanism operating in a planeparallel to that of the said rotatable means to effect the constantmovement of obj ects in regular spaced order through a fixed arcuatecourse intersecting that of the said rotatable means with operativeimpelling force against the rotatable means.

2. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination with arotatory printing member, of ,a horizontally disposed rotatable prongedWheel in geared connection therewith for actuating said printing memberwith rolling printing effect upon the side of each of a succession ofobjects, of an endless Circular conveyor operative in a plane parallelwith that of the said rotatable Wheel for constantly moving said objectsalong a fixed arcuate course in operative actuating proximity to saidrotatable wheel, and means incorporatedi with said conveyor forlocalizing the objects thereon so as to constitute them in effect cogsof a driving gear in a train of intermeshing gears adapted to transmitpower to effect the individual printing of said objects While engagedwith the conveyor and the rotatable Wheel.

3. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination with a frame,and a rotatable pronged Wheel thereon, of a rotatory printing membercarried by the frame, an internally toothed annular gear on therotatable Wheel, a coaxial pinion on the printing member meshingtherevvith, and means for eifecting constant movement of objects inregularly spaced succession past said pronged Wheel and in operativeproximity thereto for rotating the same to effect individual printing ofsaid objects.

4. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination with a frame,and a rotative, pronged driving wheel thereon, of a rotatory printingmember carried by the frame, an internally toothed annular gear on thedriving Wheel, and a coaxial pinion on the printing member meshingtherewith.

5. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination With a frame,and a rotative,

pronged driving Wheel thereon, of a rota-i tory printing member carriedby the frame, an internally toothed annular gear on the driving wheel,and a coaXial pinionon the printing member meshing therewith, said gearand pinion being timed to make one complete revolution of the printingmember to each quarter turn of the driving Wheel.

In testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of tWosubscribing Witnesses.

BUNZUCHI YOSHINAGA. Witnesses:

C. J'. CLEAR, F. J. BURK.

